The Washington critic., 1887-02-07
A RING AND A LETTER.

u
rusty penknife of Toms and diamond
ring from Harry. They were ranged
on the rustic table of the summer
house, and Miss Sally Berne sa, before
them and cogitated.
1t was beautiful ring, and Harry
Trent was handsome, and possessed of
somewhat Lochinvarian perseverance,
which is always potent, still
Dick? Well, his letter was rather
too full Of "adamantine chains" and
"throbbing heart strings" but he had
fine moustache, and his temper was no
worse than most tempers are unless he
was Cornered.
AS to Tom Saxon, he hal not com.
mitted himself. If he had she could
imagine him strong and brave and
true, but not likely in any event to die
or live wasted life, as Harry and
Dick had promised to do. Though he
was hardly handsome, she remem.
bered that he had keen eyes, with Il
look of thunder asleep but ready"
a firm face that lit grandly in a smile.
She might even admit that the blend.
ing of strength and gentleness, non
chalance and energy, sternness and
mischief, was rather fascinating. But
he had not fallen before the eyes that
Dick described SO thrillingly. Ger.
tainly the knife was no token of dust.
biting. She had found 1t under the
orchard seat where he had peeled her
an apple and read Evelyn Hope" and
she mad kept it-iust as curiosity,
perhaps; certainly there was no reason
for keeping the rusty old thing. She
looked away from it to the letters sig
natur How would Sally Jarvis look?
Then voice from the doorway inter
rupted;
MY nymph, in thy mcasurings be all
my gifts remembered.
Sally smugglcd the knife into her
jacket pocket, hastily.
The correct quotation would make
better sense, DR.. Saxon" she said,
with spirit. For, if by gifts you
mean talents or any description of
graces have yet to discover them.
While she was meditating this reply
that should bring him to sense of his
misdeeds, a small breeze exploring
their retreat, whislSed the letter from
the table. 1t fluttcred downward uu-
der mass of vines. Miss Bernc, rush.
ing impulsively to the rescue, found
the vines we're rose vines and exceed
ingly thorny. She was entangled and
scratched, but the doctor untwisted
the briars deftly and was getting a
thorn out of her wrist with solictious
gentlencss and a pin point when Dick
arrived. The scene was not calculated
TO make him sing psalms. DR.. Saxon
had too much of the possessive case In
his fine eyes and that wounded little
hand lay too passiyely in his hold.
Good evening" said Dick, tremu.
ously polite, but suggestive.
The doctor gave guilty start and
Miss Sally met the speakers irate eyes
with a slight flush.
The breeze continuing lively, made
the unfortunate manuscript conspicu-
Gus. Dick recognized his chirography
and rcddened over his eyebrows.
at has given us some trouble" said
| the doctor, in q careful tone. perhaps
| you may succeed better, Jarvis. I'll
possess my mind with patients"
But Jarvis detained him. by no
means. Iquite understand; there is no
| need 10 disscmble further"
| The doctor tried not to appear
amused. Il don't quite understand, !"
| he said.
But Jarvis was moodly watching
the northeast sky, and was apparently
deaf The clouds gatherclng in that
sky were rather ominously interesting.
They rolled together presently with a
prolonged rumble and the small breeze
had very rapidly developed.
a u. l., Ill
1--WE must race for the house." hG
said.
GLOW sudden 1t Isl"
mot all" said Dick, scornfully. at
was rising when / left home
Heavy drops began to fall. The
trio walked briskly until, rounding d
curve of young naples, they collided
with an umbrella and its bearer,
| Take my arm quick, Miss Sally
cried the bearer, impetuously, and hei
whilom escorts fell back as gracefully
as they could. MIR. Berne did mo-
know which turn you had taken, so
have been searching for you half ar
hour. What Il shame you are wet
Why did not one of you get her al
umbrella or give her your coat, or dc
something?"
This to the rear chevaliers. Dlcl
looked savage and disgusted. Ton
laughed indulgently.
you see there is another lance to b(
shivered," he whispered TO the savage
knight.
bah! think | will 90 back and
fish up that interesting specimen oi
rhetoric from the mud and rose.vincI
and read it, Say so to Miss Berne will
my congratulations" And he turned
liercely, ignoring the beat of the wind
and rain.
Meantime there came crisis to
Sally. Harry had given quick glance
at her left hand, then looked to hei
face.
Tomorrow is so far" he said.
She was silent, and mused. The arm
she leaned on was strong arm, and sc
ready to serve her; the heart beside hei
was brave and true-had not DIR. SaNoI
said so? Why wound it by rejecting
that beautiful ring The eyes bent OF
her were eloquent, honest eyes; whN
had she put against their pleading
What was rusty pcnknifc?
She slipped that knife out of he
pocket suddenly and let it fall to tn,
wet grass. She raised her face towar(
Hanyi the sappherlne eyes brilliant
the checks pale.
owe need not wait for tomorrow,
she began
Then there was a touch on her lcr
sleeve,
"Nced we walk so fast, Miss Sally
You are tired"
The words were commonplace
enough, but something In their ton
startled her, and he was whirling tha
knife in his hand Sally looked iron
il to his face with frightened gasp
Tom met the glance as il she hat
spoken, and smiled proudly as til
color swept into her face. lie bent hi